IS TH N IO IN IT ED Introducing the new Leader Volunteering Fostering Protect your child in the sun page 2 pages 4&5 page 7 page 13 Summer 2017 South Your Somerset Somerset NEW SCHOOLS Five major school building projects are due to be completed in Somerset over the next 12 months. The projects represent more than £20m of County Council investment and will create more than 1,100 new school places for local children. Our growing population and new housing developments mean there is an ever-growing need for school places. It’s always a big challenge to predict exactly where the demand for spaces will be - and to make the funding available for new buildings when they’re needed. To do this we work closely with developers, district councils, schools, academy trusts and, of course, the contractors building the schools for us. The County Council will continue to invest in Primrose Lane new school buildings as the school population Primary in Yeovil continues to grow. opens its doors Turn to page 3 for more about the new schools being built around Somerset. Following the local election in May, now is YOUR COUNCIL - the perfect time to remind you of what the MEET THE TEAM County Council does and to introduce you See centre page pull out to your new local representatives. NEWS Contact us in Brief There’s now just one Parking services number to phone for now a ‘virtual’ reality all Somerset County Parking services for residents 1 Council services. Introducing the new Leader, have been transformed with the introduction of ‘virtual’ permits and a new ● By telephone David Fothergill online payment system. 0300 123 2224 Phone lines are open from 8am to You can now apply and pay for resident parking 6pm, Monday to Friday. permits and visitor permits, including annual In a county with an ageing ’m delighted to and daily scratch cards, in one simple online ● By post population it is vital that we find Somerset County Council, County be writing my ways to fund the challenges we transaction. Hall, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4DY face as we look to the future. first message as Annual resident parking permits and care ● By email I It is our responsibility to ensure worker parking permits will also become [email protected] the newly appointed that the economy of Somerset is ‘virtual’ – so there’s no paperwork to lose and vibrant and dynamic, so that no need to make sure a permit is on display - Leader of Somerset businesses of all sizes are Please phone the numbers just like your car tax. Once you’ve registered, below for the following services: encouraged to establish County Council. themselves in our county. We reminders will be emailed to you before a virtual Fostering and Adoption enquiries permit expires to give you time to renew them From the outset I want to make must help them develop and 0800 587 9900 grow, so that they can provide it clear that my tenure is one of again online. [ Somerset Heritage Centre continuity. Over many years we opportunities for all our residents. (01823) 278805 have done incredibly well to The annual visitor permits and daily There are so many other things visitor scratch cards will remain as Somerset Road Safety maintain stability under very that we need to focus on over the (01823) 423430 difficult circumstances and I coming years, but we must not be [ physical permits for the time being. don’t want this to change, but diverted from delivering in these Somerset Skills and Learning we must also see innovation and three key areas, which are so vital For more information, please visit 0330 332 7997 transformation where it’s needed. to health and wellbeing of our www.somerset.gov.uk/onlinepermits Somerset Waste Parnership The children who are in our care residents, our communities and (01823) 625700 must be our top priority. They our economy. deserve a safe and secure As a local authority and county we Enterprise Centres growing ● Other useful numbers environment in which to grow, have a huge amount to be proud Citizens Advice Consumer Service the opportunity to develop and of and confident about. I am omerset’s network of enterprise centres has Helpline the chance to live normal lives. committed to making Somerset Sbroken the 60 business barrier. 03454 04 05 06 We would not want anything less the best it can be. To find out for our own children, so why more about my newly appointed There are now 61 businesses based in the five Street Lighting Faults should those in care expect less? centres across the county employing more than 0845 601 0939 Cabinet, opposition and scruitiny (office hours) and leads, and how we will work 100 staff. 0845 795 9639 We also have an important together, see our feature starting (for out of hours emergencies) duty to take care of the most on page 9. Recent developments include an additional floor vulnerable, including the elderly, in the Minehead centre to make room for more Student Finance Direct and these services already With thanks businesses, and remodelling of the Highbridge (Higher Education Students only) account for over 40 per cent of facility to allow existing tenants to grow. 0845 607 7577 our budget. David [ Wellington Community Office The network of centres – with others in (01823) 667279 Dulverton, Frome and Wheddon Cross – EDITOR’S INFO was established by the County Council to help small and medium size District Councils ● To get in contact with Your Somerset or to advertise in this businesses set-up and grow. Mendip District Council [ 0300 303 8588 publication, contact Lauren Fellingham on (01823) 359176 , They provide flexible office space, small light Sedgemoor District Council email [email protected] or write to us at Your industrial units, great IT connectivity and 0845 408 2540 Somerset , Somerset County Council, FREEPOST NAT 9109, attractive tenancy agreements, all geared to South Somerset District Council County Hall, Taunton, TA1 4DY. (01935) 462462 helping small businesses, especially those in Taunton Deane Borough Council We gratefully acknowledge the support of organisations that rural areas, either start or expand. (01823) 356356 advertise in Your Somerset , but Somerset County Council can West Somerset District Council accept no responsibility for the products or services advertised. Attracting jobs and encouraging economic (01643) 703704 We advise readers to make their own enquires before growth are critical to the county’s long-term purchasing products or services. future. We are finalising plans for further Enterprise Centres in Wells and Wiveliscombe Pssst... Your Somerset costs 7p per copy to produce. and a second phase of the Highbridge centre. 02 News NEW SCHOOLS continued from cover... set Pupils at Primrose Lane Primary omer School in Yeovil have been exploring or S their recently completed, brand new f eight-class school building. They moved in after the half-term break, having been kindly hosted at Huish Primary while the work was being finished. The new school will help meet the growing demand for school spaces locally, and also boasts a nursery, which is due to open in September. By May next year, Kingfisher Primary Northgate School School should be complete, providing an additional 14 classes and another nursery for Yeovil. The project also includes a community building, as part of the commitment from the Primrose Lane housing developer. In Bridgwater, Northgate Primary School is all but finished and should be receiving its first pupils at the start of the September term. It will provide 14 much-needed classes and a nursery for the local area. By the autumn, an extension of Wincanton Primary School, taking it to a 14 classroom school, should be complete. And, by the spring of next year we expect to have delivered a new 80-space Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) in Glastonbury, for children who are not able to attend a mainstream school. Mendip PRU canton School Win These are just the biggest construction projects that the County Council is responsible for e at the moment. Last year we spent year w more than £16m on building and Last than maintaining Somerset schools. more spent ilding on bu £16m ining ainta . and m hools rset sc Some News 03 En ove your Enrich your social joy better Impr health and f life. life by meeting we quality o like-minded people. llbeing. Research has found that volunteering offers all this and more… If you have a few hours spare and would like to get to know the people in your local community a bit better, then why not volunteer with Somerset County Council? With over 25 types of volunteering opportunities on offer, we’re sure to have something perfect for you. Check out our feature for some great ideas to get you started on your journey to a better life. Do you want to volunteer with children? * Join the Short Breaks team Work with the Youth Offending Team as an ‘Appropriate Adult’ They’re looking for volunteers to help support children up to the age of 18, who They support young or vulnerable people have a disability or additional needs. You detained at the Bridgwater Custody could assist during school holidays, trips or Suite. spend time with a child to give their parents or carers a break. Be a Duke of Edinburgh Award volunteer Get involved with the Young Carers Team Try mentoring It’s all about helping young people go They support young carers aged between the extra mile – gain new skills, push eight and 18. Route 1 Advocacy and mentoring need themselves physically, help others and people to build long-term relationships and explore new things.